How Mike Matheny Became A Cardinals Catcher

The Cardinals wanted Joe Girardi to be their backup catcher but settled for Mike Matheny.

RetroSimba

A Scout, A Backup Catcher, Albert Pujols, & A Trade That Would Have Changed Cardinals History

In the years after his playing days, as he grabbed a radar gun and began a second career ballpark-hopping with other scouts and swimming in their tales, Ben Johnson started hearing the lore of his role in a trade that, as one Cardinals executive recently put it, “could have changed baseball history.”

Birdland

Ben Johnson Played A Sneaky, Important Role In Albert Pujols Legend

Within that 2000 season that hinted at the arrival of a generational talent in the Cardinals organization and ended with a dramatic flourish at Class AAA Memphis, there was a wrinkle in Albert Pujols’ advance through the minors.

Bird Land

Cardinals Set To Hire Ben Johnson As Memphis Manager

The Cardinals are going outside their organization to hire their new manager for Triple A Memphis, STLSportspage.com has learned.

STL Sports Page

Fidining Yadier Molina's Backup Isn't That Easy

As Cardinal Nation digests the vague information on Yadier Molina's left thumb, it's once again time to ponder who will eventually be the next catcher for the St. Louis Cardinals when Molina and Father Time finally meet more intimately. And potentially more important, a suitable backup for the future Hall of Famer.

KSDK

Carlos Hernandez Looks To Catch A Buyer

Former Dodgers and Padres catcher Carlos Hernandez isn't too far removed from the field post-retirement.

LA Times

Scout Ben Johnson's Journey Included Footsteps In Peoria

Ben Johnson occupied the outfield for the Peoria Chiefs in the 2000 Midwest League season.

Peoria Journal Star

Eduardo Sanchez: 260th Venezuelan In MLB

In a match with huge score (15-5) in favor of the St. Louis Cardinals, was the ideal time to test those sent for pitchers in the minor leagues. There was Eduardo Sanchez. A 22 year old pitcher, who just comes in his second season in Venezuela, Aragua Tigers would make his debut in the majors in an organization that has displayed few Creoles.

Comandante del Beisbol

Probablistic Model Of Steals, Catchers

Earlier this month I introduced the idea of a Probabilistic Model of Steals. In that post, I looked at how the stage of the game, represented by the inning, changed the probability of attempting a steal, and the success rate on those attempts. Subsequent posts examined outs, the score difference and the combination of all three. This posts looks at running against catchers, comparing actual stolen base attempts against the expected number of attempts based on the model.

Baseball Musings

Rick Ankiel Era Ends In Trail of Questions

After 12 seasons, often tumultuous, the Rick Ankiel era has ended with the Cardinals. Seeing limited playing time available to him here in 2010, Ankiel, a free agent for the first time in his career, has elected to take his new outfielding career across the state, where he says he has been told he'll be the center fielder for the Kansas City Royals this season.

STL Today

Cardinals Catchers Versus The Stolen Base

Today is part two of our look at the Cardinals’ focus on defending the running game. We’ll take a look at how the catchers play a role in slowing down the running game of opposing teams.

Pitchers Bat Eighth

Ex-Cardinals Watch 9-27-08: Hernandez Working In T.V., Tavarez Gives Up Game, Moyer Clinching Game, End Of Season Injuries

Carlos Hernandez:
When Carlos Hernandez first came to the San Diego Padres in 1997 from the Los Angeles Dodgers, the expectations weren't high. He had been a career backup with the Dodgers and was brought on board to fill the same role with the Padres. But Hernandez had different plans.
Where Are They Now? Carlos Hernandez

Julian Tavarez(Braves):
Darin Erstad's ninth-inning walk-off homer off Julian Tavarez provided the Astros a 5-4 win over a Braves team that exited Minute Maid Park knowing that yet another one-run loss could have been avoided had they simply not made so many mistakes -- both mental and physical.
Braves' Comeback Comes Up Short

Dmitri Young(Nationals):
Manager Manny Acta said of all the injured players on the roster, the Nationals will keep a close eye on first basemen Nick Johnson and Dmitri Young.
Nationals To Monitor Young, Johnson

Edgar Gonzalez(Padres):
At no point in his first 107 games with the Padres this season did Edgar Gonzalez ever get jammed so much by a pitch that the bat completely broke in his hands.
Gonzalez Miffed By Jammings

Jaime Moyer(Phillies):
This scene might be familiar to Phillies fans. A late September matchup with the Nationals, white rally towels being waved furiously throughout Citizens Bank Park and a possible playoff berth looming right around the corner.
Moyer Gets Chance To Seal NL East Title

J.D. Drew(RedSox):
Two days after his short-lived return to the Red Sox's lineup, right fielder J.D. Drew underwent tests on Friday to make sure there were no further problems with the back that has kept him off the field almost entirely since Aug. 17.
Tests On Drew's Back Reassuring

Coco Crisp(RedSox):
Outfielder Coco Crisp, who has not played since Sept. 23, is recuperating from an injection in the bottom of his left foot.
Coco's Footnote

Placido Polanco(Tigers):
Tigers second baseman Placido Polanco left Friday's game against the Rays with a sprained left ankle suffered on a collision at the plate. He will be reevaluated Saturday after X-rays were negative.
Polanco Leaves Game After Collision

Johnson City Beats Greenville 13-1: Morales 2-Run HR, Mitchell Solo HR, Castro 2 Doubles & 5 RBI's, Castellanos 3 RBI's, Vasquez 2 RBI's

Individual Highlights:
Brett Lilley 3-for-4 with 3 Runs, 2 BB's, 1 K, & 1 Fielding Error.
Guillermo Toribio 4-for-6 with 2 Runs & 1 CS.
Niko Vasquez 2-for-4 with 2 RBI's, 1 Run, & 1 K.
Jairo Martinez 2 BB's.
Alex Castellanos 2-for-4 with 3 RBI's(2 w/Two-Outs), 2 Runs, 1 BB, & 1 K.
Ivan Castro 2-for-4 with 2 2B's, 5 Two-Out RBI's, & 1 Run.
Osvaldo Morales 1-for-4 with 1 HR, 2 Two-Out RBI's, 1 Run, 1 K, & 1 Throwing Error.
Travis Mitchell 2-for-4 with 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 Runs, 1 BB, & 1 K.
Carlos Gonzalez Started, 4 Innings, 4 Hits, 1 Run(ER), 2 BB's, 1 Balk, & 4 K's(ground out-fly out:1-7).
Mike Blazek Win(1-0), 4 Innings, 1 Hit, 0 Runs, & 5 K's(ground out-fly out:3-4).
Joel Pichardo 1 Inning, 0 Hits Or Runs, & 1 BB(ground out-fly out:2-10.

Rough Outing:
Matt Rigoli 0-for-1 with 1 K.
Jarred Bogany 0-for-5 with 2 K's.

Boxscore

Greenville Sun Post Game

Will Clark Working With Diamondbacks, Watches Rick Ankiel Grow

These days, Will Clark's days are pretty simple. Living in Louisiana, he gets up, sends the kids to school, and goes to play golf.

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